James Gilligan, LCSW

James Gilligan earned his Master of Social Work from Florida International University in 1998 and became licensed in Florida in 2000 as an LCSW - a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who provides therapeutic care across the lifespan. He began his career working with children in the Miami-Dade County school system, delivering individual, group, and family therapy and supporting students and families in educational settings.

Over the years he expanded his practice to include work with people living with severe mental illness, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depression. Since 2007 he has worked with active duty military, focusing on marital concerns and individual treatment for anxiety, depression, pervasive worries, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. That work also included addressing domestic violence and the effects of dysfunctional family systems that often carry trauma into adult relationships.

He also supports clients facing addictions and eating disorders and has provided marital counseling with training in Gottman Marriage Counseling techniques. Drawing on a range of treatment methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, EMDR, and motivational interviewing, he concentrates on practical strategies that help clients make meaningful changes in their lives.

Evidence-Informed Approaches and Online Support

James Gilligan integrates approaches that address both emotional patterns and present-day symptoms. Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early relationships shape current connections and helps people heal patterns of abandonment, codependency, and attachment issues by strengthening interpersonal security and communication.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and developing practical skills to reduce anxiety, depression, and stress. EMDR - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing - is used to process upsetting memories and reduce the intensity of trauma-related reactions, often benefiting those with PTSD or complex trauma.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. He works with clients to evaluate needs, goals, and preferences and selects or blends methods that best support the client’s progress rather than applying a single model by default.

Online therapy offers flexible options such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and to access licensed professionals from different locations. These formats support consistent care, quicker check-ins between sessions, and tailored communication styles to suit each client’s comfort and convenience.